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ARE YOU THE NEXT BIG NAME IN FOOD TECH?

Get in front of top investors, industry giants, and decision-makers who can take your startup to the next level.

SUBMIT APPLICATIONINVITE A STARTUP

400+

CHALLENGERS

6

TRACKS

60

FINALISTS

1

WINNER

SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS, GAIN VISIBILITY, AND BUILD NEW PARTNERSHIPS

AN EPIC PITCH BATTLE FOR AGRI-FOOD TECH STARTUPS

Food Tech Challengers is a global stage for startups and entrepreneurs transforming the food industry. It’s where bold founders gather to showcase technologies that create a more sustainable, efficient, and scalable food system.

Startups gain exclusive access to 1000+ top investors, industry leaders, and global partners – unlocking new opportunities at the Food Tech Congress.

The competition culminates in an exciting grand finale. Startups pitch their innovative solutions to a panel of esteemed judges, competing for recognition, investment, and a chance to make a lasting impact on the agrifood sector.

WHY 400+ STARTUPS APPLY EACH YEAR

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

As a finalist, you’ll gain exclusive access to over 1000+ top investors, industry leaders, and global partners at the Food Tech Congress in Barcelona. This is your opportunity to skip the endless email chains and meet decision-makers face-to-face.

GLOBAL EXPOSURE AT FOOD TECH CONGRESS

Whether you’re seeking funding, strategic partnerships, or industry insights, this is where you connect with the right people. At Food Tech Congress, you’ll share your solutions with industry’s key players, leading corporations, and top media outlets, gaining exposure you won’t get anywhere else.

BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS

Present your solutions to a distinguished jury of top venture capitalists and corporate representatives. This is your golden opportunity to secure funding, build long-term partnerships, and boost your startup’s credibility – setting the stage for future industry breakthroughs.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A panel of industry-leading experts from top corporations, venture capital firms, ecosystem builders, and media partners will handpick the top 10 companies from each of the six competition tracks.

These 60 standout startups will earn the exclusive chance to pitch live at Food Tech Congress on November 4-5, 2025 in Barcelona. As Europe’s premier food tech event, the platform offers unmatched media exposure and valuable networking opportunities with key players in the industry.

One company will be crowned the ultimate winner of the Food Tech Challengers, marking a significant milestone in their journey to revolutionise the agrifood sector.

DISCOVER THEMES

FOOD TRANSPARENCY, SAFETY & SECURITY
TRUST ON EVERY PLATE

What’s really in our food? Where does it come from? How can we ensure it’s safe, traceable, and sustainable? The Food Transparency, Safety & Security track is for startups tackling these questions with solutions specialising in:

Blockchain & AI-powered traceability
Next-gen food safety & contamination prevention
Ethical sourcing & supply chain transparency
Ensuring food security in a changing world

If you’re building trust in the food system, this is your chance to showcase your innovations, connect with industry leaders, and help shape a safer, more transparent future.

AI & DIGITAL AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS
BEYOND CHATBOTS AND SELF-DRIVING CARS

The future of food is engineered with data, automation, and AI. This track is for startups transforming agriculture and food production through cutting-edge digital solutions like:

AI-driven precision farming
Big data & predictive analytics in food production
Automation & robotics in agriculture
Smart supply chains & sustainability tracking

If you’re building the tech that makes food smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable, this is your platform to shine.

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
RESTORING THE LAND, RETHINKING FOOD

In a world where soil health and biodiversity are at risk, regenerative agriculture is the answer. This track celebrates startups innovating to restore ecosystems, boost soil fertility, and create sustainable farming practices. Apply if your startup is working on:

Soil regeneration & carbon sequestration
Biodiversity-enhancing farming methods
Sustainable farming technologies
Local, resilient food systems

If you’re leading the charge in regenerating the earth while growing healthier, more sustainable food, this is your moment.

NEW PROTEINS
THE PROTEIN REVOLUTION STARTS HERE

The world is hungry for better protein solutions – are you the one bringing them to the table? The New Proteins track is where bold ideas meet scaling opportunities. We’re looking for startups that aren’t just following trends but setting them. Apply if you’re:

Revolutionising plant-based proteins
Breaking barriers with cell-cultured alternatives
Breaking barriers with cell-cultured alternatives
Harnessing precision fermentation for the next-gen food

If you’re transforming how we produce and consume protein, this is your stage. Pitch your breakthrough, connect with investors, and help shape the future of food.

TURNING WASTE INTO WEALTH
WASTE IS OUT. CIRCULAR IS IN

Food waste isn’t just a problem – it’s an untapped opportunity. The Turning Waste Into Wealth track is for startups redefining waste, transforming byproducts into valuable resources, and building a truly circular food system. We’re seeking for startups:

Upcycling food waste into new ingredients
Innovating in bio-based packaging and materials
Turning agricultural byproducts into sustainable solutions
Creating zero-waste food production systems

If your company is closing the loop and turning waste into wealth, this is your chance to shine. Pitch your solution, connect with investors, and help build a smarter, more sustainable food industry.

WELLBEING VIA NUTRITION
EAT BETTER, FEEL BETTER: THE POWER OF NUTRITION

Food isn’t just fuel. It’s literally the foundation of our health. The Wellbeing via Nutrition track is for startups that change how we eat, making nutrition smarter, more personalised, and more accessible. Join if you specialise in:

Personalised nutrition & functional foods
AI-driven dietary solutions & gut health innovations
Next-gen supplements & biohacking breakthroughs
Bridging the gap between nutrition, sustainability & longevity

Join to pitch your vision, connect with key players, and be part of the movement redefining wellbeing through nutrition.

TIMELINE

1.

APPLICATION
DEADLINE

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025

2.

TOP 60
ANNOUNCED

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025

3.

TOP 60
PITCHES

NOVEMBER 4-5 @ FTC

4.

WINNERS
ANNOUNCED

NOVEMBER 4-5 @ FTC

STARTUP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Each of the 60 finalist companies (10 per each track) are granted 1 complimentary ticket to Food Tech Congress 2025. It’s an event that you don’t want to miss!

MEET THE JURY

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

FOOD TECH CHALLENGERS 2024 HIGHLIGHTS.

WINNERS OF 2024

ULTIMATE CHALLENGER

Koolboks provides a reliable and alternative long-term storage technique due to the superior insulation and ice battery technology employed in the design. It can function as a refrigerator or as a freezer, depending on the preference of the user.

TOP 6 CHALLENGERS

NEW PROTEINS
Perfat and their technology allows food producers to incorporate a healthier fat in applications where solid fats are needed. Low on saturated fats, fewer calories, loads of gut friendly dietary fiber, their solution is built on local plant oil-based sustainability.
ENHANCING WELL-BEING VIA NUTRITION
EXOSOMM is a biotech-foodtech company, inspired by the virtues of mother milk and its unique health properties. It develops a variety of nutritional solutions based on natural milk derived exosomes.
FOOD TRANSPARENCY, SAFETY & SECURITY
inoqo is an innovative SaaS platform designed to help grocery retailers assess and manage the impact of their thousands of products across various dimensions in a scalable way.
FIGHTING FOOD WASTE BATTLE
Koolboks provides a reliable and alternative long-term storage technique due to the superior insulation and ice battery technology employed in the design. It can function as a refrigerator or as a freezer, depending on the preference of the user.
DIGITAL FROM FARM TO FORK
RootWave kills weeds using electricity to give better weed control at a lower cost than chemical herbicides whilst protecting health and helping nature restore its soils, water and biodiversity.
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Responsive Drip Irrigation is the owner of the new method in water resetting the standard for irrigation systems. GrowStream™ tube is the world’s first and only plant-responsive technology delivering water directly to the plant roots as they need.

GOT ANY QUESTIONS?

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Food Tech Challengers are brought to you by Futurae Media – the organisers behind bold global events like Energy Tech Summit, Energy Tech Summit Asia, Compute Summit, Food Tech Congress, Health Tech Forward, and Urban Tech Forward.

We curate high-impact gatherings where innovators, industry leaders, and disruptors come together to spark ideas, strike deals, and shape what’s next in tech and sustainability.

OTHER INITIATIVES FOR STARTUPS